As I look back at the 2013 Miami Dolphins season, there’s no question that this team fell short of where this organization would like to be at this time of the year. Despite multiple games where the team played competitive football down to the last play of the game, they didn’t make enough plays to separate themselves in the end. The inability to win a game in week 16 or week 17 to get into the playoffs somehow overshadows the strides that took place earlier in December. Here are some of my thoughts as I look at the entire body of work from this season.

1) Score More Points – The way offenses score points in the NFL, you’re not going to win 10 or 11 games or challenge for championships if you average under 20 points a game. This has been a problem for this team for a few years now but I believe that some of the skill players are in place to change this trend. It’s not a secret that this offensive line will get a full makeover minus center Mike Pouncey during the off-season and 2014 draft. That should help quarterback Ryan Tannehill‘s accuracy and health moving forward. Also having a season understanding what the skill set he has with deep threat Mike Wallace will hopefully lead to consistent connections behind coverage in 2014. This area must improve because those multiple miscues added to the frustration of averaging 19.8 points a game and left easy points on the field. The emergence of tight end Charles Clay (69 receptions for 759 yards and a team-leading 6 touchdown receptions) and the consistency of wide receiver Brian Hartline (team leader in both receptions with 76 and yards at 1,016) stabilized the passing game for Tannehill. The Miami running game never got on track and lagged behind for most of the season. The lack of a spark in the running game can be linked to the inconsistency up front and the pressure that resulted behind the line of scrimmage.

2) Defensive Deficiencies – As I look at the defense side of the football, I like that the Dolphins only allowed 20.9 points per contest (8th in the league) seeing that there were only a couple of dominating defensive teams in the entire league in Seattle (1st at 14.4 points per game), Carolina (2nd at 15.1 points per game) and San Francisco (3rd at 17 points per game). The struggle for this side of the ball was against the run and getting people on the ground. Tackling is where this group struggled all season long and it started in the middle of the defense. The top three tacklers were linebacker Philip Wheeler (118 total tackles), Reshad Jones (107 total tackles) and Dannell Ellerbe with 101 total stops. These two linebackers were around the football, but really didn’t create many game-changing plays or consistently bring down opponents in the open field. Jones flew around much like Ellerbe and Wheeler, but only produced one interception the entire season. Coming into 2013, I felt like teams wouldn’t be able to grind it out against this unit, but they achieved at a much higher rate than anticipated. Getting movement against our front four proved easier than expected. There where players that achieved beyond expectations like cornerback Brent Grimes, who led the team in interceptions with four, and gave this unit stability at a position of need. Defensive end Olivier Vernon also has a solid season with 11.5 sacks but as a unit, much more was expected.

3) Quarterback Getting Closer – It was apparent that Ryan Tannehill made strides in 2013 and that despite the record number of sacks, he still started every game for the second consecutive season. This might not seem like a big milestone, but could prove valuable for the future development of a young quarterback. There’s no question Ryan has the ability to throw and locate the football and I believe he will continue to make significant strides in the future. His touchdown to interception ratio was much better this season (24 TDs to 17 INTs in 2013 compared to 12 TDs and 13 INTs in 2012), and his quarterback rating went up from 76.1 to 81.7 as well. There were times that Tannehill missed the deep ball and that is a concern, but not something that can’t be fixed or worked on in the off-season. The fact that this offense didn’t have any consistency rushing the football made opposing defenses focus more on pressuring the pocket, forcing Tannehill’s attempts to rise from 484 last year to 588 this season. Tannehill played well but his level of execution must continue to elevate if he’s going to lead this organization to playing games in January or early February.

Please Note:
The opinions, analysis and/or speculation expressed by The Finsiders Blog represent those of individual writers, and unless quoted or clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions, policies or desires of the Miami Dolphins organization, front office, coaches and executives. Writers' views are formulated independently from any inside information and/or conversation with Dolphins officials, including the coaches and scouts, unless otherwise noted.

iVE BEEN A FAN FOR OVER 0 YRS ALSO, AND I ve lived in maine the whole time. iM SICK OF THESE PATS FAN AN THEIR ARROGANT CRAP. WHAT HAPPEN TO THE PRIDE THERE USED TO BE BEING A MIAMI DOLPHIN. i USED TO FEEL THAT PRIDE NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE NOOO TRUE PASSIONATE LEADERSHIP WE ARE JUST ARE AVERAGE. DAM LIVING HERE IN MAINE I NEED MORE THAN THAT. WE HAVE GRT DEFENSE AN OFFENSES BUT SEEM TO ALWAYS BE OUR COACHED , OR DONT HAVE THAT HUNGER TO FRIKN WIN.

ya know its really the fans and the media that attached all this hype and expectation when philbin came in it was at the very least a 3 year project to get this team to playoff caliber and its only been two. Just because they signed a couple big names doesnt mean they were promising a superbowl. This is the problem dont have a super bowl in 2 years in the fanbase wants you out so we can get another coach that cant turn around a team in 2 years then we fire him. By that point all our players are aging like cameron wake. Continuity. Miami needs that, Miami needs one coach for about 5 years and you’ll see the difference it makes when the team has been together a couple seasons and has chemistry. Now this next season their should be lofty expectations both coach and qb being in third year and they should be able to at least make the wild card. If not then you start talking about changes to head coaches and whatnot but need a lil more time then two years to build a great team

ya know its really the fans and the media that attached all this hype and expectation when philbin came in it was at the very least a 3 year project to get this team to playoff caliber and its only been two. Just because they signed a couple big names doesnt mean they were promising a superbowl. This is the problem dont have a super bowl in 2 years in the fanbase wants you out so we can get another coach that cant turn around a team in 2 years then we fire him. By that point all our players are aging like cameron wake. Continuity. Miami needs that, Miami needs one coach for about 5 years and you’ll see the difference it makes when the team has been together a couple seasons and has chemistry. Now this next season their should be lofty expectations both coach and qb being in third year and they should be able to at least make the wild card. If not then you start talking about changes to head coaches and whatnot but need a lil more time then two years to build a great team

ya know its really the fans and the media that attached all this hype and expectation when philbin came in it was at the very least a 3 year project to get this team to playoff caliber and its only been two. Just because they signed a couple big names doesnt mean they were promising a superbowl. This is the problem dont have a super bowl in 2 years in the fanbase wants you out so we can get another coach that cant turn around a team in 2 years then we fire him. By that point all our players are aging like cameron wake. Continuity. Miami needs that, Miami needs one coach for about 5 years and you’ll see the difference it makes when the team has been together a couple seasons and has chemistry. Now this next season their should be lofty expectations both coach and qb being in third year and they should be able to at least make the wild card. If not then you start talking about changes to head coaches and whatnot but need a lil more time then two years to build a great team

Bryan, remember this is a different ear than when Shula coached…we have 300 lb offensive linemen complaining about being victim to bullying. In Shula’s day, you give those guys a football, and let them beat it out of each other. Now you have to hold their hand and talk nice to them. WTF has this world come to?

jory , ia a loser Fan like his Bit** friend randy and all these loser in the real life that love a team to losing , don’t care about win , only care about see a team with uniform and play if they loose it is Ok, They are real loser or they are from NY or they real sucks, Losers

OK OK. I concur. I backed Ireland for all the years in Miami because he only drafts or signs the players and the coaching staff should develop them. But after watching Indi and KC in the first half and there Offensive Lines functioning at an above average level someone must pay for our inept line play.There is no excuse. Replace Ireland and Philbin? . We need a physical OL with a power Running Game. A couple quick fixes and we should be very competitive again .

Randy Richbourg…the great fan of 48 years. Congrats, I guess the extra 8 years you have on me makes you sooooo much more knowledgeable. Yeah, you’re right, the team is not a joke. They are sad! and so is the corny logo recently adapted. I feel like I’m sporting charlie the tuna on my tee-shirt. Th uniforms look like it belongs in the movie, “Any Given Sunday” Unlike you, I am a REAL fan, who knows when a team is jerking around its fan base. I remember how this storic franchise was. We may not have won every year, but there was always hope. When a franchise continues to rip your guts out and asks you each year to be patient, …and we accept, then we’re all fools. And before you comment on my girlfriend, …read the post again! Get your facts straight.

This team was just abhorrent all year long. They ALL should be ashamed of themselves and embarrassed to cash any last checks they may have. Just awful the entire year in one way or another. They can’t get a decent team down there if their lives depended on it.

I’ve been a Dolphin fan for forty years. Here’s some advice to all. Look at Dolphin games with absolutely no expectations. I am tired of being pissed and cranky at my girlfriend and all around me after a loss. This year I was in harmony. As much as I want Ireland fired, Joe Philbin was responsible for getting a lot of key players off the team. Marshall, Bush, Dansby, etc. They were all missed this year. Sherman was fired by both, Green Bay and Texas A&M. There was a reason. Tannehill played one season as quarterback in college and they felt that was enough to draft him in the fist round. So, for all of you who were tricked into believing that this was going be a winning ball club. Shame on you. in the meantime, I continue to live life in harmony and my girlfriend loves me again. This franchise is a joke! When they become serious again, only then will I have a pulse again while watching games.

You stupid average Bit** , losers for life, love to e loser, talk about , we are going do it , we are going to get it and what you got Ireland back and your not Cojones Coach Philbin, and you still sucking, too much talk and not walk , like Wallace ,your Bust out WR, , what you are going to get is another 10 years of losing , again , and again and again… and you love it , because as stupid and idiot that all you are, , you losers fans love to be losers , and only care for stats, and maybe wins, and not playoff, , keep dreaming and keep typing and keep talking bullshi** , because the only you got and only you are going get is another losing season in 2014 and the next 10 years, losers, Thank you Ross to make this a loser Sucker Team,LOSERS

It’s not accepting a losing season Camilo. It’s accepting the fact that we are improving. I’ve been a fan since I was 7 and I’m now 21. This is the best I’ve seen us look in a long time and I’m sure older fans can definitely relate. We should’ve been in the post season, but we choked these last two weeks.

Not untill we get Rid of the LAST of that OLD TUNA SMELL (Ireland) will we be a playoff Team!!!!!! How many times have I said this? Hello Mr. Ross Is anyone at home? Give me a Call I can fix all this for you!!!

3 key takeaways: 1 Ireland needs to go. 2. Sherman needs to go. 3. Coyle needs to go. . . If Philbin goes to bat for Sherman, Fire Philbin and kill 4 birds with 1 stone. I like Philbin, I get the impression the Players really like the guy. He kept the Martin Incognito mess to a minimum and brought the team together. Tannehill has already alluded to losing faith in Sherman. . . HOWEVER, If Ireland is the only one to get the boot, I would be willing to see what Philbin and Sherman could do with a stout O-Line and a PREMIER RB. 2 of the biggest needs in FA and the draft. . . It isnt going to be easy going into another season with Sherman, the guys resume just doesnt fit the bill.

Man , writer are you Philbin or Ireland, F the Stats, Stats not make a team a Winner or make to the playoff, The team real Suck, and your loser not good GM Ireland and your old punk creep Sherman, if Philbin want him to come back , fired Philbin too and go coach with him in another country loser, Fire all, are you Blind and the losing season for 10 years make you Dumb and you sanctify to be a loser and only you accept stats, loser , or you are areal loser,LOSER

This year was really which ever way the wind blew. We started the season 3-0,lost 4 straight, and managed to finish the season at 8-8 and missing the playoffs losing the last two games. As fan, I can say that this is probably the best that I’ve seen Miami. We still aren’t as explosive as I would like us to be, but we are making the right adjustments and it shows…look at our record! We still have a lot to work on and hopefully next year we come out as one of the top contenders.

I’m sorry. But we don’t have any running game. Lamar Miller is not a consistent running back. He doesn’t run in between the tackles or truck stick, as a result, he averages less than 5 yards per carry. Why did we give up Bush? Why did we give up Marshall? It seems like when players leave Miami they blow up and start grindin. Think about the running game we would have if we still had bush, had Mike Wallace on one side of the field, Marshall on the other, and Hartline running slants O.o

I’m super disappointed that the Dolphins didn’t make the playoff but I’m so excited for the upcoming season. They played in 8 games that were decided by 4 pts or less. With what I hope is an improved OL in 2014-15 season & the re signing of Grimes & the return of GIbson, lets also take into account that they had one of the toughest schedule in all the of the NFL..Next year schedule is much easier & I can envision the Dolphins winnings at least 10 games in 2014-15.

to Jory” there are some loyal fans who refuse to have smoke blown up there ass again! remember this is the team that said they would over take the pats and have an explosive offense, fans have every right to be mad, your problem is you`re accepting mediocre plays again some of us want results when is next year ever gonna come? i think we shouldve kept Todd Bowles and draft if available the qb from CFU he is very accurate and doesnt have cement shoes like Tanni

WOW how far have the Dolphins fallen? in the Shula years it was a given we were in the playoffs,now it’s a one game improvment. If a Shula team scored 7 points in 2 games heads would have rolled. We had coaches that did their jobs and players that did their’s, Fans that went to the games. I have season tickets and have NEVER been as embarrsed as I was at the Raven game where Raven fans out numbered ours. I am so sick of this crap. Things need to change and fast.

This team had the potential to make plenty of noise play deep into January and possibly even February but underachieved severely because they failed to make plays in the trenches and all they had to do was either beat buffalo or NY whom are both inferior teams in my opinion and they couldn’t get the job done which tells me one of two things…Either this team simply did not want to play in January or they lacked the guts and fortitude to win a single game against more than beatable opponents in two consecutive weeks which means this team has bigger problems than a simple line fixture or upgrading a particular position. I blame Tannehill just as much as I blame the line for all those unnecessary sacks because he’s supposed to be able to sense the pocket better and not just be a sitting duck all the time. Tannehill may have made positive strides on paper overall but as far as I’m concerned next year is make or break or we need to find ourselves a real super-studded quarterback!

New O-Line in the draft – monsters – 7 picks… and a free agent running back – someone proven that wants to come and start. Maybe someone who can also be a receiver out of the backfield. AND FINALLY – a new playbook that has 100 short yardage plays – plays that can pick up a third and two, third and one or fourth and one…

What I gather from JC’s article is that the games this year were lost in the trenches. Outside of Pouncey, the O-line needs to be re-made. There are probably now question marks at the DT spot since those guys kept getting pushed off the ball, which is surprising considering how good Starks and Soliai have been in recent years. And the LB group needs to be looked at as well, since they were unable to make open field tackles, and cover TEs in pass coverage, and pressure opposing QBs with blitzes. There are a lot of needs here that cannot be addressed in one draft and signing a couple of FAs, especially since the Dolphins will probably have to use most of their FA dollars to re-sign Grimes. My guess is with a new GM and OC, this team is still 2 – 3 years away from being a legitimate playoff threat.